September Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness month. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and is the second leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 15-34 years old. San Luis Obispo County’s suicide rate is well above the State of California’s average. Older adults 61 years and older, including Veterans, are one of the higher risk groups for suicide locally.

The Behavioral Health Department collaborates with several local agencies to reduce suicide by increasing culturally sensitive services, messaging, and community-based efforts that engage all members of the county. Efforts aim to not only reach the individual who might be at risk, but also their social networks, workplaces, families, neighborhoods, schools, and places of worship. Learning how to recognize the warning signs of suicide, knowing how to talk to someone, and identifying where to turn to for support are key skills in preventing suicide.

Help Us Plan For the Future

In partnership with the Suicide Prevention Council of San Luis Obispo County, SLO Behavioral Health is looking for community input to help inform our county’s suicide prevention plan. We are working with our partnering organizations, stakeholders, and administration to create a prevention plan that will help support the future of our community but cannot do it without you! By taking this anonymous 10-minute survey, you will be contributing important information that will help make our plan effective and unique to our community.

Suicide prevention is everybody’s business, and it starts with you. By completing the survey below, you can help us meet the needs of our community.

Complete the Survey

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